Grandma Betty’s Shepherd’s Pie

Grandma Betty’s Shepherd’s Pie

This old-fashioned Shepherd’s Pie is the kind of comfort food that brings everyone to the table. A rich, savory layer of seasoned ground beef and vegetables is topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until perfectly golden. Grandma Betty’s secret step? Whipping a little extra butter into the potatoes for an unbelievably light and fluffy texture!

Ingredients

For the Meat Filling:

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 carrots, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup frozen peas

For the Mashed Potato Topping:

• 2 lbs (900 g) potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 tbsp butter
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup sour cream (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp chopped chives or parsley

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Boil the potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain well.
3. Mash the potatoes with butter, milk, sour cream, salt, and pepper until smooth and fluffy. Stir in chives.
4. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
5. Add onion, carrots, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
6. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, beef broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–7 minutes.
7. Add peas and mix well.
8. Transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish.
9. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top and create swirls with a spoon or spatula.
10. Bake for 25–30 minutes until heated through and lightly golden on top.
11. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6

A hearty, family-style classic that’s perfect for cozy dinners and guaranteed to bring back memories of Grandma’s kitchen.